Temptations (Alpha City Book 5)

by Bryce Evans

  She could hear the pattering of little feet down the hallway. Carina stood in the doorway, her eyes locked on Thea’s. “You want some Fruit Loops, honey?”

  Carina just nodded and crawled up the chair to sit down beside her. Thea smiled and took a bowl down, and poured her some cereal and milk, then sat back down.

  The baby had been moving all day. She grabbed ahold of her stomach. “Sin is running around inside my belly. You want to feel him move?” Carina nodded, and Thea put her hand over the spot. Carina smiled, and that was the first time Thea had ever seen an emotion from the little girl. Then her eyes rolled back in her head, and whispered, “Only pieces of the Stone with a new heart can bring the sleeper awake.”

  Thea grabbed ahold of Carina before she fell backwards. “Are you okay?” Carina just glanced around and nodded. “What did you mean?”

  Carina shrugged like she didn’t know what Thea was talking about. The little girl sat in silence and ate her cereal. She wasn’t much of a talker. Thea felt sorry for her, with all that running around in her head at only eight years old. She was a beautiful little girl.

  After Carina finished, she picked her bowl up and walked over to the sink. She pulled a stool over and washed her bowl out, then put it in the dishwasher. Before she left, she glanced back at Thea with the oddest look on her face. She almost looked like she regretted something, and for the life of her Thea didn’t know what it was. Fear crept up her spine as Carina walked back to her bedroom. She had to tell Skylar and Nolan what Carina had said.

  Getting up, she walked to Nolan’s bedroom and listened before she knocked. She sure didn’t want to interrupt them if they were into something. When she didn’t hear anything, she knocked.

  Nolan came to the door, thankfully with his clothes on. “Everything okay, Thea?”

  “Well, I need to talk to you both.”

  “Come in.” Nolan moved, and Thea walked in. Skylar was sitting on the bed. They both were dressed in black, loose-fitting clothes. Later tonight they would all be in the woods, waiting.

  Skylar patted a place beside her on the bed. As Thea sat down, her Alpha put an arm around her. “What’s wrong, Thea?”

  “I was sitting at the table, eating, and Carina walked in. I fixed her some cereal and she sat down beside me. When I asked if she wanted to feel the baby moving, she put her hand on my stomach, then had a vision. I didn’t understand what it meant, but I knew I needed to tell you guys. She said that ‘only pieces of the Stone with a new heart can bring the sleeper awake.’ Do you understand what that means?”

  Nolan and Skylar both shook their heads. “Sometimes Carina’s visions don’t make sense until later. I have no clue what it means, but I’ll make sure that everyone in the Order knows what she said,” Nolan reassured her. He pulled out his phone and started typing in what Carina had said to Thea.

  “I’m scared,” Thea whispered.

  Nolan sat down beside her and put his arm around her as well. “I’m scared too, but I know if we don’t do this then this world won’t be worth living in. The witch is crazy as hell, and I’m not going to be her slave. But something tells me, Thea, that we’re going to make it. Stay strong and keep believing that we are. And you, little man—we can’t wait to see you.”

  “I’m going back to get Xavier up. He took a nap, knowing it was going to be a long night. I’ll see you in a few.” Thea hugged them both, then walked out of the room.

  “It’s time, baby. We need to gather everyone and head to where we’re supposed to meet the others,” Nolan said, pulling Skylar to him.

  This was it. Doomsday, for lack of a better word. Nolan glanced around and let his tiger come forward. He needed to use his senses to find the enemies lurking around. The Alphas already knew they were using spray to mask their scents, but his dragon eyes could pick up their heat signatures as they made their way toward them.

  Thankfully, their adversaries didn’t have any idea that they were lying in wait for them. High Master Privet and Mick had already taken care of Locke’s people at the hotel. Locke and his guards were gone before they got there. They would be with Claudia, knowing that they were going to attack today.

  The plan was to move the witches and warlocks toward the meadow. They would use Dag and Cry to do that. The dragons used their wings to make some noise to frighten them with; they would have no clue what was behind them, all they knew was it wasn’t part of Claudia’s team.

  Some got scared and started running, but there were others who stood their ground. That was where Kayden’s team picked off the ones in the back. Nobody looked back; they were all concentrating on what was in front of them. Nolan could hear the quiet sounds coming from the ones that Kayden and his people took care of. These witches weren’t trained in combat, especially how to be silent assassins like shifters. His tiger pressed against him, wanting out. Retribution was in the air, and Nolan wanted to protect his mate and the other members of his pride.

  There were only a handful left before the next wave was sent. Each time the enemy passed another section, the ones at the end of the line were taken out. Finally, they had made it to Nolan’s section, and his tiger was let free to rip out the throats of those who had come to kill them in their sleep. Nolan unsheathed his killing claws and destroyed everything in his sight. Not one of them was spared, unless someone else got to them first. They were all thirsty for blood and wanted vengeance for what Claudia and Jamal had done to their people.

  Blood was everywhere. Each and every member of his pride was eager for the next bunch of cowards coming in the night. His mate sat on top of a tree branch, watching. He wanted her to save her strength for when her brother came. The Bow of Artemis was strapped to her back, along with arrows tipped with gold. He had watched his mate practice her shooting, and she was the best he’d ever seen. She was born for this. Her face showed no emotion. She was one tough cookie, and he knew that whatever happened, he had to keep her safe.

  The next wave was coming but this time it was different; they were prepared, and shooting back with magic. The Alphas expected this would happen. Claudia’s people must’ve had walkie-talkies, letting them know what was happening. The shifters would go to step two and stay hidden, letting them continue ahead without any problems. Me-Len and the covens were waiting on them, and then they would come in from the side, hoping to catch them off-guard.

  That’s when they heard it, overhead—the powerful sound of the devil himself. When Nolan looked over at his mate, her eyes were already watching the night skies. The time had come for them to fight the beast.

  Before he tore off behind his mate who had silently dropped to the ground, the battle cries of another wave arrived; now coming in from all directions. Nolan fought one and killed him, then another, and then another. There were so many of them, each with the cold eyes off a killer with no loyalty to a pack or pride. Nothing but death would suffice for these deranged witches. There was no going back or giving up for them, only death.

  This wave had vampires, jumping from trees to evade the animals who were killing anything in their path. They would pay a price for their treachery.

  The sky lit up as Jamal used his fire, blasting down from above and trying to hit any shifter within its path. Screams could be heard from all directions now. The smell of burned flesh rose from the ground as men screamed, choking on their unheeded cries. The sound of death was all around. Nolan shifted quickly letting his tiger out, striking anything in that came at him. All he could think about was Skylar and getting to his mate.

  It felt like it was taking him forever to get to the meadow, but they had underestimated the amount of people Claudia would have. Who were these vampires and shifters betraying their own people? And for a chance at what? Claudia didn’t believe in sharing. And now that she had the book open, dear God… He just needed to get to his mate.

  Kill, kill, kill was his tiger’s mantra as he pushed harder to reach the meadow. He should never have left her side. When he finally got to the middle
of the clearing, it was chaos: battles were being fought everywhere. The meadow was once the favorite place in Alpha City for cubs and pups to run through. Not one flower would survive this dreadful scene. Dark red blood covered the beauty it once held as it dripped down to soak into the dirt. The ground was now covered in blood and bodies, and the vile smell rose up from the earth.

  His heart dropped when he found his mate surrounded by men with nets, and Jamal off to the side waiting to go in for the kill. He could tell Skylar’s brother was about to pounce on her. Nolan roared, rushing forward and drawing the dragon’s attention, giving Bo and Cat’s people time to help get the net off of her. Time seemed to slow as Nolan watched the dragon inhale, getting ready to send forth his fire. Carina’s dream would come true; his life would be forfeited. As Jamal’s breath blew forward, the thick cloud of billowing fire pelted Nolan’s body. He grunted, anticipating pain that never came.

  Nothing could’ve prepared Nolan for the moment when his body morphed into something else. Looking down, he saw black scales cover his body as giant wings morphed outward, stretching out farther and farther, blocking the others as they looked on in fear. He didn’t have a mirror to look in, but if the roar that came out of his mouth was anything to go by, he had shifted into a dragon. Jamal’s fire didn’t singe a hair on his head—if he had any right now. The men holding the nets all turned when they saw him coming for them. Skylar could make the shot now, but he had to get the nets off of her. He could taste the fire in his mouth as he rushed forward, and without a second thought Nolan roared out a stream of flames that shocked even him. He seared the vampires holding the net, and even lit the grass on fire.

  Nolan didn’t stop. The nets were released, but his mate was still in danger. Changing directions, he flapped his wings until he landed in front of Jamal, shielding his mate until she could ready her bow. The utter look of shock on Jamal’s face made him want to laugh. Nothing but the dragon’s dead body would cure the shifters’ need for retribution for Kenny, Thorn, Pennson, and Jessica Wingate. He could tell his mate had knocked the net aside and stood up beside him.

  “What do we have here, sister? They said that your mate couldn’t shift, but here he is and look at him.” Nolan so wanted to know what he looked like right now. “You’re nothing like I ever seen. Part dragon and part lion. But you’re still no match for me.” Jamal breathed in and shot out a blast of fire toward Nolan. Not knowing what to do, Nolan threw up his wings and blocked the fire, but he was still hit full-on by Jamal. Not knowing what he could do with his dragon, he’d fallen for it. Jamal tried repeatedly to flip him over on his back. Nolan knew he would rip his heart out if he succeeded at that.

  Jamal’s claws dug deep into his chest but missed his heart. When Jamal’s wing came in front of him again, he clamped down on it with his mouth and held on. Jamal roared and flipped him back and forth, trying to pry him loose, but Nolan wouldn’t let go. Jamal’s other claw tried desperately to hit him in the heart but missed again. The dragon was clawing at anything it could reach. Nolan and Jamal thrashed around, crashing into trees and knocking them to the ground. Using one of the trees as leverage, Nolan kicked out and flipped over Jamal. The dragon was fierce as it came at him again, knocking him backwards and giving Jamal the chance he needed.

  Nolan’s last thought was of his mate. He prayed that the Gods would keep her safe. This was the end for him. But as his eyes closed before the final blow, a small sound made him open his eyes as the flash of gold connected. Jamal’s eyes widened, as if he couldn’t believe what he was seeing. Skylar had shifted and had shot him in the heart with a golden arrow.

  Jumping up, Nolan watched as Jamal’s eyes fluttered, then closed. The ground shook when his massive body fell to the ground, and Nolan and Skylar watched as he took his last breath. As soon as Jamal died, absolute chaos broke out. Something changed once their ace in the hole was dead; the tide had turned, and with that came a rush of emotional energy through his group. This was the chance they needed. Nolan didn’t pause to celebrate: he started killing anything that he could get to. Fighting Jamal had taken almost everything out of him. His body was spent, but as he grabbed vampires and witches in his claws and tore them apart, energy began to flow through his veins again. Some went running as soon as they saw that there were now four dragons fighting against them Cry and Dag were experts in using their fire to light up those that were running. Nobody would get a free pass tonight. They would end this with nobody coming back for revenge.

  Chapter Nineteen

  Thea sat on the couch in the hidden rooms below Nolan’s house. They had no clue what was going on or who was winning. She wrung her hands as they waited. Xavier paced the small room, and Carina sat motionless beside her. She had been having labor pains all day. She told Xavier not to tell anyone so they wouldn’t go out worrying about them. But not knowing what was going on seemed to bring the pain on faster. “Oh shitttt.” Thea screamed, and doubling over.

  “Thea!” Xavier yelled out. Running to her side, he lowered her to the couch. “Breathe, baby. Just breathe in and out, like they showed you.”

  “It’s too fast. It’s coming. He’s coming.” Thea huffed out a pained breath.

  “Okay baby, just take in deep breaths, and we will handle this.” Xavier was calm as he took her pants and underwear off. “Carina, can you hold her hand for me while I check her?”

  “Oh God, he’s coming,” Thea roared. The pain was excruciating as she pulled her legs up and pushed. She needed him out of her.

  “I can see his head, baby. Sin is ready to meet his momma. Okay, Thea, push when the pain hits again.”

  “How the hell do you know what to do?” Thea yelled out. She turned when she heard a small laugh. Thea smiled when she saw that Carina was giggling. “What’s so funny?”

  “You and him,” Carina said.

  Thea couldn’t help but smile. “I guess we are kinda funny. Shittttt.” Thea pushed as the pain hit her again.

  “One more time, baby. He’s almost out,” Xavier said. She screamed out as the pain hit her again. “Again, Thea. Push real hard.” She didn’t really have a choice, when that’s what her body was ordering her to do.

  Pushing as hard as she could, Thea felt like her insides were being cut open. Then she felt relief when Xavier pulled their son out. “Oh Thea, he’s beautiful. Just like you.”

  Xavier wrapped their son up in a blue blanket and handed him to her. His little lips trembled, then blessed them with his first temper tantrum. The cry was loud, but a blessing to her ears. It meant that he was healthy and alive. Xavier cleaned Thea up, putting new clothes on her. Skylar had bought her a dress that covered her body but could easily be pulled up or down without much effort. That way she could move around after she had the baby. Their healing was so fast that Thea would only feel sore for a little while.

  “Everything looks good down here, my love. No tears.” Xavier winked at her.

  “You’re a dirty man, Xavier,” Thea teased.

  “Yep, but I’m your dirty man.”

  “Yes you are, my love. Look at him, Xavier. Look at our baby boy.” Thea held him up for Xavier to see. “He looks like his daddy, too.”

  “Thank you, baby, for giving me a son. I love you.”

  “I love you back.” Thea smiled as Xavier kissed her on the check.

  “I need to get some diapers from our room. Now, don’t you go anywhere! I’ll be back.” Xavier opened the door before she could tell him to wait and check the camera. Something hard hit the door. Carina looked over at her, then moved to place her body in front of Thea and the baby.

  Thea could only shake her head. No, no, no. She could feel the bond break inside of her. It felt like her insides had been ripped out. “No, please no, please no, no. Xavier!” Thea screamed out.

  She jumped up when the door opened and found Locke smiling at her. “I’ve killed your mate, and unless you do what I tell you, your child is next. Do the right thing here, dragon, or the baby and the l
ittle girl go too.”

  Thea fell to the ground, crying.

  Carina raised her hands to throw a spell at them. “If you do that, little girl, I will kill the mom and baby,” Locke warned. “Drop your hands.”

  Thea glanced up. Carina’s face was pinched with pain as she held her hands up. She could see the magic as it circled around her.

  Holding her baby close to her, Thea sobbed in pain. Her mate, her beautiful mate, was dead. He would never get to see his son again.

  Carina placed her hands on Thea and bent down. “Thea, please trust me,” were the last words she heard before she felt nothing more.

  Nolan and Skylar released fireball after fireball at the last of Claudia’s people. His body shifted when he finally fell to the ground, exhausted. Skylar bent down beside him. “I think that was the last of them. Rest for a few, until we find out if there are others.”

  Nolan glanced around the meadow to find nothing but blood and death. There were so many bodies, Nolan didn’t know who had survived. Each time one had fallen, another would come out of the woods. So many wasted lives, and for what? He had to know if any of his friends had made it.

  Standing up, Nolan yelled out them. He watched as each of his friends and their mates came forward. It was already starting to turn to daylight. How long had the battle gone on? Ryder was bleeding from a cut to his head. London was holding her left arm, as blood dripped down from it. As he looked around at his friends he saw that they were all hurt, but still alive, and that was all he could ask for. They were shifters and would heal. Bast and his guards all came out from the meadow. Blood dripped from their swords as they glittered in red instead of the beautiful gold color they once were. Bo and Cat Toland all walked forward with their clan.

  “Thank you, God.” Maggie turned and hugged her father as Mick and the High Master came forward. Everyone was covered in blood, but they were still alive. Pride members all came forward, but sadly some were not among the living. He knew there would be lives lost, but still, nothing could have prepared him for it. Fincher and two of his guards walked forward, and Nolan couldn’t help the sigh he released when they showed up.